Shallow Ecological Relationships With the Biosphere and Climate Change Perceptions: An Ecopsychoanalytic Perspective

Abstract

The psychology of the human-nature nexus remains largely understudied, hindering efforts to effectively address environmental issues such as climate change. To address this gap, there is a need for a theory that explains the ecopsychoanalytic processes that impact shallow relationships between people and the biosphere, as well as their perceptions about climate change. This article reports the findings of a grounded theory analysis that explored how insecure, ambivalent, and avoidant attachments shape the relationship of three groups of people (Disconnected, Uncommitted, and Pleasure Seeker) with the biosphere and how this relationship has influenced their perceptions about climate change. The study expands the reach of psychoanalytic theory to contribute toward the understanding of the ecological crisis and provides insights into how interventions could be tailored to address shallow ecological relationships.